Chip cutting tool

ABSTRACT

A chip cutting tool for rotary machining operations comprising a tool holder formed with an insert retaining pocket adjacent a leading end thereof and a cutting insert clampingly and releaseably retained therein. The cutting insert has top and base surfaces, two pairs of opposite major and minor side surfaces and at least one cutting edge defined at an intersection between an upper, relief flank surface of a first major side surface and the top surface of the insert. The cutting edge has first and second cutting edge portions, the relief flank surface of the cutting edge at least adjacent the second portion thereof being directed at an internal acute angle to the insert base surface. At least a portion of the second major side surface of the insert is substantially co-directional with the second portion of the cutting edge. When the cutting edge is in its operative position, the first portion of the cutting edge is disposed substantially radially and the second portion of the cutting edge is substantially co-directional with an axis of rotation of the tool and located above the reference plane. The second major side surface and the associated minor side surface of the insert are disposed within the pocket, converge in the direction away from the cutting edge and abut, with their abutting portions, respective side walls of the pocket, an abutting portion of the second major side surface being disposed at the portion thereof co-directional with the cutting edge.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/360,522, filed Dec. 21, 1994 and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,460.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a chip cutting tool comprising an exchangeable chip cutting insert replaceably mounted on a tool holder and used in rotary operations, such as milling, drilling and turning. In particular, the present invention relates to end mill cutting tools for machining of either plane or irregular shaped surfaces including cavities, narrow slots, rounded grooves or fillets, complicated three-dimensional surfaces, etc. The invention is particularly related to such cutting tools having a small cutting diameter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One particular form of such a chip cutting tool is of the ball-nose type and comprises a tool holder having an insert retaining pocket and a cutting insert replaceably mounted and clamped therein. With such a tool the feed movements of the tool and/or of the workpiece with respect to each other are multidirectional and this, taken together with the curved cutting edge of the insert, gives rise to relatively great cutting force components acting on the insert in general and on the cutting edge in particular. In consequence, the design of the cutting insert, its positioning on and mode of clamping to the tool holder, as well as the design of the retaining pocket, have to be such that these forces do not give rise to damage of the cutting insert and/or its retaining pocket or weaken the secure clamping and positioning of the insert in the pocket whilst, at the same time, allowing for efficient machining.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,512,689 discloses a typical chip cutting tool of this kind. The cutting tool comprises a disk-shaped cutting insert having indexable cutting edges and mounted in an insert retaining pocket of a tool holder by means of a clamping screw so that one of the cutting edges projects out of the pocket constituting thereby an operative cutting edge and at least one other cutting edge being located inside the pocket and constituting an inoperative cutting edge. To ensure secure fixing of the insert in the pocket a base and portions of rear side walls of the insert are adapted to abut respectively a base and side walls of the pocket.

However, this prior disclosure does not deal with problems which arise with tools having relatively small cutting diameters, e.g. about 10 mm or less. These problems involve achieving miniaturization of the tool whilst providing an adequate space for chip forming and evacuation, and all that without decreasing a cross-sectional dimension of the tool body and affecting the strength of the insert and the clamping screw.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a new and improved chip cutting tool, particularly for contouring of shaped surfaces requiring small cutting diameters, where the above problems are effectively solved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a chip cutting tool for rotary machining operations comprising:

a cutting insert having top, base and side surfaces and at lest two indexable cutting edges formed by the intersection of rake surface and relief flank portions of said top surface and said side surfaces and extending along respective portions of the periphery of the cutting insert;

a tool holder with a longitudinal axis of rotation having an insert retaining pocket formed in a leading head portion of said tool holder and having base and side walls; said insert being secured in said pocket;

screw clamping means for releasably clamping said insert in said pocket with one of said cutting edges and its associated side surface being indexed into an operative cutting position and with its base and at least portions of remaining side surfaces respectively abutting the base and side walls of said pocket; each of said cutting edges, when in its operative position, comprising leading and trailing cutting edge portions with said trailing cutting edge portion being substantially co-directional with said longitudinal axis and being more remote therefrom as compared with said leading cutting edge portion;

characterized in that

said trailing cutting edge portion when in its operative position is located above a reference plane parallel to a plan view of the tool and passing through said longitudinal axis, whilst its associated relief flank surface is directed at an internal acute angle to said reference plane; the remaining side surfaces of said insert and the abutting side walls of said pocket respectively, converging towards each other in a direction away from said operative cutting edge; at least one of the converging side walls of said pocket sloping towards the base wall of the pocket at an angle substantially equal to said acute angle so as to be retainably abutted by said relief flank surface of a inoperative cutting edge.

Thus, the fact that in the cutting tool according to the present invention the insert is mounted in the tool holder with its trailing cutting edge portion located above the reference plane allows, on the one hand, for the cutting wedge of the trailing cutting edge portion to be increased, thereby strengthening the cutting edge and, on the other hand, for the provision of a retaining pocket of sufficient depth so that the tool holder is not unduly weakened. All this is achieved whilst at the same time ensuring the provision of adequate space for chip forming and evacuation. It is a specific advantage of the present invention that this design enables an effective clamping of the insert to the tool holder in a substantially dovetail manner so as to be nearly self-holding, rigid but easy to release with the relief flank surface of the inoperative cutting edge used as one of clamping surfaces. Such a manner of clamping ensures that the clamping screw serves only for effective positioning of the insert in the tool holder while any torque which arises during cutting operation of the tool is taken up by the abutting portions of the insert and the pocket. Consequently, decreased stresses are set up in the clamping screw. This enables the screw to have a relatively small diameter. These advantages are particularly useful for miniaturization of cutting tools with very small cutting diameters, e.g. about 10 mm.

Preferably, an internal angle between the relief flank of the cutting edge in its operative position and the base surface of the insert decreases from a maximum value adjacent the leading cutting edge portion to a minimum value adjacent said trailing cutting edge portion.

Preferably, the insert has a substantially disk shape and the insert cutting edges are curved and include an intermediate cutting edge portion between the leading and trailing cutting edge portions. However, the cutting edge portions may also be substantially straight.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each cutting edge is of such a shape so that during rotary operation the leading and intermediate cutting edge portions generate an envelope constituting a segment of a spherical surface having its center on the axis of rotation and the trailing component cutting edge generates an envelope constituting a cylindrical surface. In this case the leading cutting edge portion is located at least partly below the reference plane. The relief flank surface of the intermediate cutting edge portion has preferably a design similar to that of the trailing cutting edge portion.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the base surface of the insert retaining pocket is inclined with respect to the reference plane of the cutting tool at a negative axial angle.

Preferably, the abutting side surface of the insert disposed between the two cutting edges thereof has a bevelled upper portion inclined with respect to the base surface of the insert at an acute angle and the respective converging side wall of the pocket slopes towards the base wall of the pocket at an angle corresponding to that of the bevelled portion.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a chip cutting tool for rotary machining operations comprising:

a cutting insert having top, base and side surfaces and a cutting edge formed by the intersection of rake surface and relief flank portions of said top surface and said side surfaces and extending along respective portions of the periphery of the cutting insert;

a tool holder with a longitudinal axis of rotation having an insert retaining pocket formed in a leading head portion of said tool holder and having base and side walls; said insert being secured in said pocket;

screw clamping means for releasably clamping said insert in said pocket with one of said cutting edges and its associated side surface being indexed into an operative cutting position and with its base and at least portions of remaining side surfaces respectively abutting the base and side walls of said pocket; said cutting edge comprising leading and trailing cutting edge portions with said trailing cutting edge portion being substantially co-directional with said longitudinal axis and being more remote therefrom as compared with said leading cutting edge portion;

characterized in that

said trailing cutting edge portion when in its operative position is located above a reference plane parallel to a plan view of the tool and passing through said longitudinal axis, whilst its associated relief flank surface is directed at a first internal acute angle to said reference plane; the remaining side surfaces of said insert and the abutting side walls of said pocket respectively, converging towards each other in a direction away from said operative cutting edge; at least one of said abutting side surfaces of the insert being directed at a second internal acute angle to said reference plane; at least one of the converging side walls of said pocket sloping towards the base wall of the pocket at said second acute angle substantially equal to said acute angle so as to be retainably abutted by one abutting side surface

Thus, the cutting insert according to the second aspect of the present invention is designed for cutting diameters still smaller than that of the insert according to the first aspect of the present invention, e.g. about 8 mm and less, and therefore has only one cutting edge. The geometry of this one cutting edge is completely identical to the geometry of the operative cutting edge of the insert having two cutting edges and the clamping mechanisms of both inserts are substantially the same. Therefore, the insert according to the second aspect of the present invention has all the relevant advantages described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried out in practice in connection with particular examples thereof, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1a and 1b are respectively perspective and exploded views of a cutting tool in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are respectively perspective, plan, front and side views of a cutting insert forming a part of the cutting tool shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of the insert shown in FIG. 3 along the respective lines VI--VI, VII--VII and VIII--VIII;

FIG. 9 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of a leading head portion of the cutting tool in FIG. 1a;

FIG. 10 and 11 are cross-sectional views of the cutting tool shown in FIG. 9 taken respectively along the lines X--X and XI--XI perpendicular to a base of the pocket;

FIGS. 12 and 13 are respectively side and plan views of the assembled cutting tool, according to the present invention, during machining operation;

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the tool shown in FIG. 13 along the line XIV--XIV; and

FIGS. 15a and 15b illustrate a perspective view and a top view, respectively, of an alternative embodiment of a cutting insert in accordance with the present invention, which insert has one cutting edge;

FIGS. 16a and 16b illustrate an alternative embodiment of a cutting insert in accordance with the present invention, the insert being double-sided;

FIGS. 17a and 17b illustrate an alternative embodiment of a cutting insert in accordance with the present invention, which insert has straight cutting edges; and

FIGS. 18a and 18b illustrate another embodiment of a double-sided cutting insert in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate a metal cutting tool, namely, a ball-end milling tool, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The metal cutting tool comprises a cutting insert 1, a tool holder 2 and a clamping screw 3 formed with a conical portion (not seen) which tapers from a screw head 3' to a screw threaded portion 3". The cutting tool has a reference plane XZ perpendicular to the height direction Y of an insert retaining pocket 47 and passing through a longitudinal axis of rotation A coinciding with an axis Z of a three-dimensional coordinate system XYZ shown in FIG. 1a.

The cutting insert 1 shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 is substantially disk-shaped and is formed with a top surface 4, a base surface 5 and surfaces major side surfaces 6 and 7 and minor side surfaces 8 and 9. The side surfaces 6, 7, 8 and 9 are substantially perpendicular to the base surface 5 and defining the periphery of the insert 1.

The cutting insert 1 has two indexable curved cutting edges 10a and 10b formed by the intersection of the top surface 4 with the respective side surfaces 6 and 7 and extending along two opposite portions of the periphery of the cutting insert. Portions of the top surface 4 and the side surfaces 6 and 7 adjacent the cutting edges 10a and 10b constitute respectively rake surfaces 12a and 12b and relief flanks 13a and 13b thereof. In view of the fact that the cutting edges have completely identical geometry so as to be indexable into operative cutting positions when the insert 1 is mounted in the tool, only one cutting edge will now be described.

As is clearly seen in FIG. 13, when the cutting edge 10a is in its operative position at a leading end 14 of the tool, it comprises a first leading cutting edge portion 17 disposed in the vicinity of the longitudinal axis A of the tool, a second trailing cutting edge portion 18 remote from the longitudinal axis A and substantially co-directional therewith and an intermediate cutting edge portion 19 therebetween. The cutting edge portions 17, 18 and 19 are seen also in FIGS. 2 to 5. Thus, as seen in FIG. 5, the trailing cutting edge portion 18 slopes in the direction of the base surface 5 from the leading cutting edge portion 17.

As seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the relief flank 13a of the cutting edge is inclined with respect to the base surface 5 at an internal angle α having its maximal value, preferably from 70° to 90°, adjacent the leading cutting edge portion 17 (FIG. 6) and being substantially more acute adjacent the intermediate cutting edge portion 19 (FIG. 7) and the trailing cutting portion 18 (not seen). Such a design allows to increase the cutting wedge of the insert and to form the rake surface 12a with a chip forming groove 22 not affecting the strength of the cutting edge. A cutting wedge angle of the insert defined by the chip forming groove 22 varies along the cutting edge in accordance with a required cutting geometry and, especially, so as to provide the cutting edge with positive radial and axial cutting rake angles.

The side surfaces 8 and 9 shown in FIG. 8 are provided with a bevelled upper portion 23 forming with the base surface 5 an internal acute angle 24.

The insert is formed with a central through bore 30 having countersunk and cylindrical portions merging via a toroidal portion 30' and having dimensions enabling the clamping screw 3 to be freely received therein.

As seen in FIG. 1b, the tool holder 2 is formed with a cylindrical head 45 having a leading end 46. The tool holder head 45 is formed with an insert retaining pocket 47 adapted to receive the insert 1. It is shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 that the pocket 47 has a base 48 and side walls 50 and 51 of a shape matching the shape of the respective side surfaces of the insert, i.e. they converge towards each other in a direction away from the leading end 46 of the tool holder 2 in the same manner as two adjacent side surfaces 7 and 8 of the insert 1 converge towards each other in a direction away from the operative cutting edge 10a. The side wall 50 of the pocket slopes towards the base 48 in a manner similar to that of the relief flank 13b of the inoperative cutting edge 10b and the side wall 51 of the pocket slopes towards the base 48 in the manner corresponding to that of bevelled upper portion 23 of the insert side surface 8. The base 48 of the pocket 47 is slanted with respect to the above-mentioned reference plane XZ at a negative angle β (FIG. 12).

The pocket 47 has a centrally disposed threaded bore 55 adapted to be aligned with the insert through bore 30 and to cooperate with the threaded portion 3" of the clamping screw 3.

FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate that, when the screw 3 secures, in a conventional manner, the cutting insert 1 in the pocket 47 of the tool holder 2, the insert base surface 5 abuts the pocket base 48. Furthermore, the insert side walls 7 and 8, and in particular the portions thereof constituted respectively by the relief flank 13b and the bevelled portion 23, abut the corresponding sloping side walls 50 and 51 of the pocket 47. Thus, due to the specific design of the cutting edges, particularly of their relief flanks, the relief flank 13b of the inoperative cutting edge 10b serves to effectively clamp the insert 1 to the tool holder 2 in a dovetail manner which, as mentioned above, is specifically advantageous for the insert 1 having a small cutting diameter.

The geometrical configuration of the insert cutting edge and the orientation of the insert in the tool holder are such that during rotation of the cutting tool around the longitudinal axis A, the leading and intermediate cutting edge portions 17 and 19 generate an envelope constituting a segment of a spherical surface having its center on the axis of rotation A, while the trailing cutting edge portion 18 generates an envelope constituting a substantially cylindrical surface. FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 schematically illustrate the disposition of the metal cutting tool during machining of a workpiece W.

It is seen in FIG. 12 that, due to the specific orientation of the base 48 of the pocket 47, the insert is positioned so that most of its body is located above the reference plane XZ, enabling thereby a significant increase of the height of insert supporting portion of the holder head 45 and, consequently, of its strength. On the other hand, there is still left a space 61 for chip forming and for evacuation thereof from the cutting edge. In view of the specific inclination of the base 48 and due to the fact that trailing cutting edge portion 18 slopes with respect to the base surface of the insert, the trailing cutting edge portion 18 is substantially co-direction with the longitudinal axis A so as to have positive axial rake angle.

FIG. 14 shows that even with the above-described specifically advantageous and non-conventional geometry of the relief flank surface of the trailing cutting edge portion 18, there still exists a relatively large clearance 60 between this relief flank and the workpiece W.

Although in the insert described in the preferred embodiment of the present invention the cutting edges are curved, they may consist of substantially straight cutting edge portions such, for example, as shown in FIGS. 17a and 17b. The insert 1 may be designed with more than two cutting edges disposed at one side thereof or it may also be double-sided, e.g. such as shown in FIGS. 18a and 18b.

FIGS. 15a and 15b show an alternative embodiment of the insert of the present invention where an insert 1' is designed similarly to the insert 1 of the above preferred embodiment but for small cutting diameters. e.g. of 8 mm and less (i.e. smaller than those of the insert 1). The insert 1' has a single cutting edge 10' with the rest of the insert body designed specifically for retaining and clamping purposes. The cutting edge 10' has a geometry identical to that of the cutting edge 10a of the insert 1 and major side surfaces 6' and 7' and minor side surfaces 8' and 9' have a configuration identical to the corresponding surfaces 6 7 8 and 9 of the insert 1. Thus, cross-sectional views along the lines VI'--VI', VII'--VII' and VIII'--VIII' shown in FIG. 15b are completely identical to the corresponding cross-sectional views of the insert 1 shown respectively in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8. It has to be emphasized that the only differences between the inserts 1 and 1' are that the edge 10" of the side surface 7 which is opposite to the cutting edge 10' is a non-cutting edge and is substantially parallel to a trailing cutting edge portion of the cutting edge 10' and that the surfaces 7' and 8' have only clamping function. Therefore, angles of inclination of upper portions 13b' and 23' (not shown) of the respective side surfaces 7' and 8' may be different than that of a relief flank 13' of the cutting edge 10'.

It is to be noted that FIGS. 12 and 14 illustrating the cutting tool with the insert 1 can be used also for illustration of a cutting tool with the insert 1' mounted in a suitably shaped pocket of a tool holder. As seen in FIGS. 16a and 16b, the insert 1' may be double-sided and have cutting edges 10a' and 10b' located on different sides thereof.

It should be mentioned that the components of the cutting tools, according to the present invention, may be of various designs and dimensions depending on specific applications of the tool. Thus, the holder head may be conical rather than cylindrical, the insert side walls and their portions and accordingly the pocket side walls may have different dimensions and different angles of inclination. The side walls of the pocket may have small recessed or projecting portions or some other alternative means to ensure that their contact with the adjacent insert surfaces takes place in predetermined localized positions. The base surfaces of the insert and the pocket may be of a spherical, prismatic or other suitable shape rather that being flat.

The chip cutting tool according to the present invention may be used for machining of workpieces made of different suitable solid materials. 

We claim:
 1. A chip cutting insert for use in a cutting tool assembly, the insert comprising:top and base surfaces, first and second major side surfaces and a minor side surface, the second major side surface and the minor side surface having an upper portion inclined with respect to said insert base surface at a respective internal angle which is acute at least along a part of the length of a corresponding side surface, a cutting edge defined between the first major side surface and said top surface, said cutting edge comprising leading and trailing sections, a relief flank surface of the first major side surface being inclined with respect to said insert base surface at an acute internal angle, adjacent said trailing section; said minor side surface being disposed adjacent the trailing section and the second major side surface and said minor side surface converging in a direction away from the cutting edge.
 2. A chip cutting insert for use in a cutting tool assembly, the insert comprising:top and base surfaces, first and second major side surfaces and a minor side surface, each of said side surfaces having an upper portion inclined with respect to said insert base surface at a respective internal angle which is acute at least along a part of the length of a corresponding side surface. a cutting edge defined between the upper portion of the first major side surface and said top surface, said cutting edge comprising leading and trailing sections. said minor side surface being disposed adjacent the trailing section and the second major side surface and said minor side surface converging in a direction away from the cutting edge, wherein the internal acute angle defined between the first major surface and the insert base surface decreases from a maximum value adjacent the leading section to a minimum value adjacent the trailing section of the cutting edge.
 3. A chip cutting insert according to claim 1, wherein the cutting insert is substantially disk shaped, and the cutting edge is substantially curved and further comprises an intermediate cutting edge section between the leading and trailing sections.
 4. A chip cutting insert according to claim 1, wherein during tool rotation, leading and intermediate sections of the cutting edge generate an envelope constituting a segment of a spherical surface having a center on the longitudinal axis, and the trailing section generates a cylindrical surface.
 5. A chip cutting insert according to claim 1, wherein said part of the length of said second major side surface is substantially co-directional with said trailing section of the cutting edge.
 6. A chip cutting insert for use in a cutting tool assembly, the insert comprising:top and base surfaces, first and second major side surfaces and a minor side surface, each of said side surfaces having an upper portion inclined with respect to said insert base surface at a respective internal angle which is acute at least along a part of the length of a corresponding side surface, a cutting edge defined between the upper portion of the first major side surface and said top surface, said cutting edge comprising leading and trailing sections. said minor side surface being disposed adjacent the trailing section and the second major side surface and said minor side surface converging in a direction away from the cutting edge, wherein the insert has two identical cutting edges defined by the intersection of relief flank surfaces formed on upper portions of first and second major side surfaces and said top surface.
 7. A chip cutting insert according to claim 6, wherein the leading and trailing sections of each cutting edge are substantially straight.
 8. A cutting insert having top and base surfaces, opposite first and second major side surfaces and opposite first and second minor side surfaces;relief flank surfaces formed on upper portions of said major side surfaces, each relief flank surface and an upper portion of each minor side surface being inclined with respect to the insert base surface at respectively a first and a second internal angle, said first and second internal angles being acute at least along a part of the length of a corresponding side surface, and first and second indexable cutting edges defined between the top surface and respective relief flank surfaces, each cutting edge comprising a leading and a trailing section, a part of each relief flank surface along which said first internal angle is acute, being adjacent to its corresponding trailing section.
 9. A cutting insert according to claim 8, wherein said insert is adapted for use with a cutting tool having a longitudinal axis, said leading cutting edge section of an operative cutting edge being oriented substantially radially and said trailing cutting edge section of the operative cutting edge being oriented substantially co-directionally with respect to said axis.
 10. A cutting insert according to claim 8, wherein each relief flank surface is directed towards the insert base surface at said first internal acute angle along the entire length of the corresponding cutting edge.
 11. A cutting insert according to claim 10, wherein said first internal angle decreases from a maximal value adjacent the leading section to a minimal value adjacent the trailing section of the cutting edge.
 12. A cutting insert according to claim 9, wherein said insert is substantially disk shaped and each cutting edge is substantially curved and further comprises an intermediate cutting edge section between said leading and trailing sections.
 13. A cutting insert according to claim 12, wherein during the tool rotation, the leading and intermediate sections of the operative cutting edge generate an envelope constituting a segment of a spherical surface having a center on said axis and the trailing section generates a cylindrical surface.
 14. A cutting insert according to claim 9, wherein said leading and trailing cutting edge portions are substantially straight.
 15. A cutting insert according to claim 14, wherein said leading cutting edge section is generally perpendicular to said trailing cutting edge section, said leading section constituting a frontal cutting edge and said trailing section constituting a side cutting edge of the insert.
 16. A cutting insert according to claim 15, wherein during a cutting operation, said frontal cutting edge functions as a wiper and said side cutting edge generates a cylindrical surface.
 17. A chip cutting insert for use in a cutting tool assembly, said insert comprising:top and base surfaces; first, second and third side surfaces having upper portions, each upper portion being inclined with respect to said insert base surface at a corresponding internal angle which is acute, at least along a part of the length of respective first, second and third side surfaces; and a first cutting edge defined between the upper portion of the first surface and the top surface, said first cutting edge having a leading and a trailing cutting edge section, said second and third side surfaces converging in a direction away from said first cutting edge, the upper portions, along said part of the length of said second and third side surfaces, adapted to function as insert abutting surfaces.
 18. A chip cutting insert according to claim 17, wherein a part of the upper portion along which said first internal angle is acute, is adjacent to said trailing cutting edge section.
 19. A chip cutting insert for use in a cutting tool assembly, said insert comprising:top and base surfaces; first, second and third side surfaces having upper portions, each upper portion being inclined with respect to said insert base surface at a corresponding internal angle which is acute, at least along a part of the length of respective first, second and third side surfaces; and a first cutting edge defined between the upper portion of the first surface and the top surface, said first cutting edge having a leading and a trailing cutting edge section, said second and third side surfaces converging in a direction away from said first cutting edge, the upper portions, along said part of the length of said second and third side surfaces, adapted to function as insert abutting surfaces, wherein the internal acute angle defined between the first side surface and the insert base surface decreases from a maximal value adjacent the leading cutting edge section to a minimal value adjacent the trailing cutting edge section.
 20. A chip cutting insert according to claim 17, wherein the cutting insert is substantially disk shaped, and the first cutting edge is substantially curved and further comprises an intermediate cutting edge section between the leading and trailing cutting edge sections.
 21. A chip cutting insert according to claim 20, wherein, during tool rotation, the leading and intermediate cutting edge sections generate an envelope constituting a segment of a spherical surface having a center on a longitudinal axis of a tool, and the trailing cutting edge section generates a cylindrical surface.
 22. A chip cutting insert according to claim 17, wherein said part of the length of the second side surface is substantially co-directional with said trailing cutting edge section.
 23. A chip cutting insert for use in a cutting tool assembly, said insert comprising:top and base surfaces; first, second and third side surfaces having upper portions, each upper portion being inclined with respect to said insert base surface at a corresponding internal angle which is acute, at least along a part of the length of respective first, second and third side surfaces; a first cutting edge defined between the upper portion of the first surface and the top surface, said first cutting edge having a leading and a trailing cutting edge section, said second and third side surfaces converging in a direction away from said first cutting edge, the upper portions, along said part of the length of said second and third side surfaces, adapted to function as insert abutting surfaces, and a second cutting edge defined between the upper portion of the second surface and the top surface, said second cutting edge being substantially identical to said first cutting edge and also having leading and trailing cutting edge sections.
 24. A chip cutting insert according to claim 23, wherein the leading and trailing cutting edge sections of both cutting edges are substantially straight.
 25. A cutting insert having top and base surfaces, first and second pairs of opposite side surfaces, two indexable cutting edges defined between the top surface and said first pair of opposite side surfaces, each cutting edge comprising a leading and a trailing cutting edge section,each side surface having an upper portion inclined with respect to said insert base surface at a corresponding internal angle which is acute at least along a part of the length of the upper portion, a part of said upper portion along which said internal angle is acute being adapted to function as an insert abutting surface.
 26. A cutting insert according to claim 25, wherein said part of each cutting edge's upper portion is adjacent to the trailing cutting edge section of that cutting edge.
 27. A cutting insert according to claim 25, wherein said insert is adapted for use with a cutting tool having a longitudinal axis, said leading cutting edge section of an operative cutting edge being oriented substantially radially, and said trailing cutting edge section of said operative cutting edge being oriented substantially co-directionally with respect to said longitudinal axis.
 28. A cutting insert according to claim 25, wherein each upper portion is directed towards the insert base surface at an internal acute angle along the entire length of the corresponding cutting edge.
 29. A cutting insert according to claim 28, wherein said internal angle decreases from a maximal value adjacent the leading cutting edge section to a minimal value adjacent the trailing cutting edge section.
 30. A cutting insert according to claim 25, wherein said insert is substantially disk shaped and each cutting edge is substantially curved and further comprises an intermediate cutting edge section between said leading and trailing cutting edge sections.
 31. A cutting insert according to claim 30, wherein, during tool rotation, the leading and intermediate cutting edge sections of an operative cutting edge generate an envelope constituting a segment of a spherical surface having a center on a longitudinal axis of a tool, and the trailing cutting edge section generates a cylindrical surface.
 32. A cutting insert according to claim 25, wherein said leading and trailing cutting edge sections are substantially straight.
 33. A cutting insert according to claim 32, wherein said leading cutting edge section is generally perpendicular to said trailing cutting edge section, said leading cutting edge section constituting a frontal cutting edge and said trailing cutting edge section constituting a side cutting edge of the insert.
 34. A cutting insert according to claim 33, wherein, during a cutting operation, the frontal cutting edge functions as a wiper and the side cutting edge generates a cylindrical surface.
 35. A chip cutting insert according to claim 2, wherein the cutting insert is substantially disk shaped, and the cutting edge is substantially curved and further comprises an intermediate cutting edge section between the leading and trailing sections.
 36. A chip cutting insert according to claim 2, wherein during tool rotation, leading and intermediate sections of the cutting edge generate an envelope constituting a segment of a spherical surface having a center on the longitudinal axis, and the trailing section generates a cylindrical surface.
 37. A chip cutting insert according to claim 2, wherein said portion of the second major side surface is substantially co-directional with said trailing portion of the cutting edge.
 38. A chip cutting insert according to claim 19, wherein a part of the upper portion along which said internal angle is acute, is adjacent to said trailing cutting edge section.
 39. A chip cutting insert according to claim 19, wherein the cutting insert is substantially disk shaped, and the cutting edge is substantially curved and further comprises an intermediate cutting edge section between the leading and trailing sections.
 40. A chip cutting insert according to claim 19, wherein said portion of the second major side surface is substantially co-directional with said trailing portion of the cutting edge.
 41. A chip cutting insert for use in a cutting tool assembly, the insert comprising:top and base surfaces, first and second major side surfaces and a minor side surface, the second major side surface having an upper portion inclined with respect to said insert base surface at an internal angle which is acute at least along a part of the length of said second major side surface, a cutting edge defined between the first major side surface and said top surface, said cutting edge comprising leading and trailing sections, a relief flank surface of the first major side surface being inclined with respect to said insert base surface at an acute internal angle, adjacent said trailing section; said minor side surface being disposed adjacent the trailing section and the second major side surface and said minor side surface converging in a direction away from the cutting edge. 